The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 13, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 30, 1997
Nabil Khater, San Jose, CA (US);
David A Baker, Hillsboro, OR (US);
Credence Systems Corporation, Fremont, CA (US);
Abstract
A cable tray assembly for a manipulator within a testing device. A manipulator including cables is used for manipulating a testing head for testing semiconductor devices. The cable trays of the present invention are mounted within the manipulator within a cable housing and are mounted on respective rails allowing them to move longitudinally in and out with respect to the cable housing. The cable trays receive and support the cables that run from a frame of a tester system to the testing head. As the manipulator is moved to position the testing head, this causes the cables to move. In response, the cable trays independently move with the movement of the cables so as to allow for a full range of motion of the manipulator while simultaneously relieving compression and tension within the cables which reduces long term cable damage. The cable trays have a greater height with respect to their width so that the cables can more readily flex about an axis parallel to the cable tray height. The cable trays also contain a contoured flange at the bottom of each cable tray to prevent cable chafing. Further, the ends of the cable trays are tapered in length at different angles to maximize cable support while reducing cable tension during flexing. In one instance, three cable trays are used. As the cables are flexed in a direction toward a one cable tray, it moves inward to relieve cable compression as another cable tray on an opposite side moves outward to relieve cable tension.